Process for preparing a protein snack food and the resulting product

ABSTRACT

A ready-to-eat snack food product which is high in protein content and contains soy protein, wney and potato flakes. The product results from a critical sequence of processing steps.

United States Patent Huelskamp et al.

Oct. 7, 1975 PROCESS FOR PREPARING A PROTEIN SNACK FOOD AND THE RESULTING PRODUCT Filed: Sept. 28, 1973 Appl. No.: 401,667

US. Cl. 426/559; 426/560; 426/622; 426/625; 426/637; 42-6/656; 426/443;

Int. Cl. A23L 1/18 Field of Search 426/141, 145, 146, 342,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Cryns 426/146 Gabby et al. 426/152 Wong et al. 426/345 Benson et a1. 426/152 Glabe et al. 426/152 Lynn 426/345 X Primary Examiner-Raymond N. Jones Attorney, Agent, or FirmLaff, Whitesel & Rockman ABSTRACT A ready-to-eat snack food product which is high in protein content and contains soy protein, wney and potato flakes. The product results from a critical sequence of processing steps.

9 Claims, No Drawings PROCESS FOR PREPARING A PROTEIN SNACK FOOD AND THE RESULTING PRODUCT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The recent trend to scarcity and inordinately high prices of meat has accelerated the need for protein in other forms. Soy beans are extremely rich in protein but do not respond readily to incorporation in appetizing food products. Soy beans alone in cooked form will cloy the average taste and, to gain variety, there have been many attempts to overcome these shortcomings. For example, some workers in the field have tried to produce a flaked cereal from soy beans alone but there is insufficient starch or other binder to cohere the particles. In order-that a snack-type wafer will be resistant to crumbling, cohesiveness of the finished product is a paramount factor. If too much liquid is added the raw ,mass becomes sticky and unmachinable during processing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention resides in a process and the product thereof utilizing soy protein, whey, dry milk, wheat flour, potato flavor e.g. in the form of flakes, sodium bicarbonate, sodium potassium tartrate, vitamin concentrates and water, and mixing these dry ingredients thoroughly before adding water to bind the mass. This mixture is blended with part of the water and permitted to rest for a period of time sufficient for hydration of the mass through to the interior. The remaining water is added subsequently and as rapidly as possible.

The formulation may be expressed in broad terms as follows:

The initial step of the mixing process comprises dry blending of the soy, whey, non-fat dry milk, flour, potato flakes, sodium bicarbonate, sodium potassium tartrate and vitamin concentrate for minutes. Since the soy, whey, milk, flour and potato would not form a homogeneous hydrated mass if water were added without the particles of each material being thoroughly separated from the others it is necessary that the mode in which such separation is accomplished and the time, become a critical factor. This pre-blending of the dry ingredients is so critical that an acceptable product is impossible without it. 5

Following blending of the dry ingredients 75% of the water is added and incorporated into the mass. This composite is left to stand for minutes to permit hydration through and through. If this is not done the mass will continue to hydrate in the forming and cooking processes with consequent failure to produce an acceptable product.

After it has been determined that the first addition of water has penetrated the entire mass, the remaining is added, which brings the mass to a condition of uniform stability. The remaining water is added rapidly eg 30 seconds, since prolonged mixing at this point of time will render the mass sticky and unmachinable.

Forming of the product to the desired shape and character may be accomplished by any of the following procedures:

I. SHEETING.

a. The dough mass is passed through a series of Teflon-coated, steel reduction rolls to a thickness of 0.012 to 0.017 inch and cut into the desired shape either by stamping or the use of rotary rolls.

If, during the cutting stage, small holes are punched into the shaped product, the product will be flat and have pillows between the holes.

0. If, during the cutting stage, holes are not cut, the

7 product will be one large pillow.

ll. EXTRUSION.

a. The mass can be extruded through a non-thermal extruder and cut at the delivery end plate, to a thickness and length depending upon the final configuration desired.

b. The mass can be extruded through a thermal cooker operating at about 250 F. and cut as in Il.a.

Imparting stability for transportation and consumption may be accomplished in the following ways:

Ill. BAKING.

a. The product ofl.a, [.b or La can be baked on a wire belt or solid steel band at a temperature of 450 F. for 2 minutes and then at 350 F. for 2 minutes. At this point the color of the product is golden brown and the moisture content is 10-12%. It is then passed through a drying chamber operating at 72 F. for 8 to 10 minutes whereby the moisture content is reduced to 24% which imparts brittleness and greater resistance to fracture. It is to be noted that these conditions of brittleness and resistance to fracture cannot be attained in the baking process because of the high percentage of lactose.

Other flavorings may be applied to the product prior to entry into the baking chamber.

IV. AIR DEHYDRATION.

a. The partially-prepared product resulting from [La is injected into an air dehydration chamber operating at a temperature of approximately 700 F. and the partially-prepared product is toasted for l /z minutes. The final product is puffy and golden brown and has a final moisture content of 2-4%.

(Flavor additions, if any, may be made to the dough mass.)

b. The partially prepared product resulting from II.b

is injected into an air dehydration chamber operating at approximately 600 F. and toasted for from A to l minute. The final product is puffy, golden brown and has a moisture content of 2 to 4%.

V. FRYING.

a. The respective products of La, Il.a and ll.b can be fried in vegetable fat at 385 F. for the following periods: I.a /2 minute; ll.a4 minutes; ll.b-2 minutes. These products will have a cellular interior and a golden crust.

The final analyses are:

BAKED III.a and b AIR DEHYDRATION lV.a and b A preferred formula for the dough is:

Soy protein 16.67 Whey powder 16.67 Non-fat dry milk 16.67 Wheat flour 10.00 Potato flakes 10.00 Flavor (various) 2.00 Sodium bicarbonate 0.25 Sodium potassium tartrate 0.25 Water 27.49 Vitamin concentrate plus For soy protein an acceptable product is a concentrate sold by Griffith Laboratories, Chicago, under N0. GL-301. This product contains 70% protein and 1% fat.

An acceptable whey powder is KRAFEN available from Kraftco, Chicago. This product is a nonhydroscopic food grade powder resulting from the drying of fresh cheese whey.

Any commercial non-fat dry milk has been found suitable.

For the flour, any common bread flour, either spring or winter wheat, with a protein level of 14% may be used.

The potato flakes are available from many sources and comprise principally dehydrated mashed potatoes.

Vitamins may be incorporated in the form of commercial tablets commonly used as a supplement in baked food products.

When a salted final product is desired, extra coarse salt is sprinkled prior to placing in the first oven while the dough mass is still moist.

We claim:

1. The process of making a protein snack food product having a high protein content comprising the steps of:

a. dry mixing:

Range 7:

Soy protein (having at least protein) 15-50 Whey powder l017 Non-fat dry milk 10-50 Wheat Flour 7-l5 Potato Flakes 7-l5 Sodium bicarbonate 0.2-0.3 Sodium potassium tartrate 0.2-0.3 Water 20-30 b. adding water to the mix in sufficient amount to form a hydrated mass and bind said mass;

c. allowing the hydrated mass to rest for a sufficient time after the addition of water in step (b) to insure uniform dispersion of the water through to the interior of the mass;

(1. rapidly adding more water to the mass to bring the mass to a condition of uniform stability;

e. shaping the mass into pieces of substantially the desired final configuration; and

f. subjecting the pieces to heat for a period of time sufficient to produce the desired product.

2. The process in accordance with claim 1 in which the additions of water at steps (b) and (d) are in the ratio of approximately 3 to l by volume.

3. The process in accordance with claim 1 in which the respective quantities of soy protein, whey, dry milk, flour and potato flakes are by weight:

. 4. The process in accordance with claim 1 in which the quantity of water is substantially 27.49% of the whole by weight.

5. The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein step (f) comprises baking the pieces on a mesh support at a temperature of substantially 450 for a period of substantially 2 minutes followed by a temperature of substantially 350 for a period of substantially 2 minutes.

6. The process in accordance with claim 5 characterized by the additional step of air drying at substantially 72 for a period of from 8 to 10 minutes.

7. The process in accordance with claim 1 in which step (f) comprises frying the pieces in fat at a temperature of substantially 385 F. for a period from /2 to 4 minutes.

8. The process of claim 1 further characterized by the additional step following step (f) of dehydrating the pieces at a temperature of from 600 .to 700 F. for a period of time ranging from A to 2 minutes to yield a final product having a moisture content of from 2 to 4%.

9. The product made by the process of claim 1. 

1. THE PROCESS OF MAKING A PROTEIN SNACK FOOD PRODUCT HAVING A HIGH PROTEIN CONTENT COMPRISING THE STEPS OF. A. DRY MIXING.
 2. The process in accordance with claim 1 in which the additions of water at steps (b) and (d) are in the ratio of approximately 3 to 1 by volume.
 3. The process in accordance with claim 1 in which the respective quantities of soy protein, whey, dry milk, flour and potato flakes are by weight:
 4. The process in accordance with claim 1 in which the quantity of water is substantially 27.49% of the whole by weight.
 5. The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein step (f) comprises baking the pieces on a mesh support at a temperature of substantially 450* for a period of substantially 2 minutes followed by a temperature of substantially 350* for a period of substantially 2 minutes.
 6. The process in accordance with claim 5 characterized by the additional step of air drying at substantially 72* for a period of from 8 to 10 minutes.
 7. The process in accordance with claim 1 in which step (f) comprises frying the pieces in fat at a temperature of substantially 385* F. for a period from 1/2 to 4 minutes.
 8. The process of claim 1 further characterized by the additional step following step (f) of dehydrating the pieces at a temperature of from 600* to 700* F. for a period of time ranging from 3/4 to 2 minutes to yield a final product having a moisture content of from 2 to 4%.
 9. The product made by the process of claim
 1. 